By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL
A suicide bomber killed at least four people Monday after detonating an explosive-laden car at a checkpoint outside the Kabul airport in the Afghan capital.
Health Ministry spokesman Waheedullah Mayar said 18 people were also wounded and were rushed to the hospital after the attack, which caused extensive damage to the surrounding area.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was targeting a convoy of foreigners.
In Washington, the State Department said the U.S. was committed to helping to stabilize the region and demanded the Taliban end its violence.
"It is in the urgent interest of both countries [Afghanistan and Pakistan] to eliminate safe havens and to reduce the operational capacity of the Taliban on both sides of the border," said spokesman John Kirby.
Monday's blast was the fourth to hit Kabul in the past four days. A series of Taliban attacks Friday killed more than 50 victims, including nine foreign nationals, and injured nearly 400 others.
Taliban attacks have intensified since April when the group launched a spring offensive, which experts believe is an attempt to gain leverage in ongoing peace talks.
The series of attacks on Kabul follow a leadership row within the Taliban after it emerged this month that the group’s reclusive leader Mullah Muhammed Omar had died two years ago.
*Anadolu Agency correspondent Esra Kaymak Avci contributed to this report from Washington
